Closure with secondary compartment

ABSTRACT

A closure for a container includes a body portion and a lid portion that is hingedly attached to the body portion for sealing and unsealing an orifice that is defined in the body portion for opening and closing the container. A removable cover is advantageously attached to the lid portion so as to define a supplemental compartment between the lid portion and the removable cover. The coverage is preferably substantially transparent, and a graphic element may be placed within the supplemental compartment so that it will be viewable by a consumer. Alternatively, product such as a lip balm could be situated within the supplemental compartment. In one embodiment, the removable cover is completely removable from the rest of the closure, while in a second embodiment it is hingedly mounted to the lid portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of packaging anddispensing. More specifically, this invention relates to improve closurefor dispensing a viscous liquid such as a lotion.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Technology

[0004] Containers that are used to store and dispense viscous liquidssuch as lotions employ a wide variety of closures in the United Statesand throughout the world. Many commercially popular closures have apivotally mounted snap-lid that is capable of being moved between aclosed position and an open dispensing position. In the closed position,the lid covers the dispensing opening and in the open position, the lidis moved away from the opening to allow the product in the container tobe dispensed.

[0005] While many such closures are generally effective, consumer tastesand particular product requirements will continue to dictate the needfor additional innovation in this area. For example, many manufacturersof product such as skincare lotion or suntan lotion might be interestedin displaying certain information or a graphic element that is easilynoticeable by a consumer. The top of the closure is the most conspicuousplace for such a graphic, but it is difficult to place such a graphic onthe lid of a conventional closure, which is typically fabricated from aplastic such as polypropylene.

[0006] Additionally, manufacturers of certain products such as suntanlotion might desire to market a different but related product, such as alip balm together with the lotion. This could be done by conventionalpackaging methods, such as by combining a container of lotion with acontainer of lip balm within a single shrinkwrap, but the products wouldbe separated after having been opened by the consumer.

[0007] A need exists for an improved closure for dispensing viscousliquids such as lotions that better permits the manufacturer to providea graphic element that is easily noticeable by a consumer. In addition,a need exists for an improved closure that would permit dispensing of adifferent product in addition to the product that is being dispensedfrom the container to which the closure is attached.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide animproved closure for dispensing viscous liquids such as lotions thatbetter permits the manufacturer to provide a graphic element that iseasily noticeable by a consumer. It is further an object of theinvention to provide an improved closure that would permit dispensing ofa different product in addition to the product that is being dispensedfrom the container to which the closure is attached.

[0009] In order to achieve the above and other objects of the inventiona closure for a container according to a first aspect of the inventionincludes a body portion having securing structure for securing theclosure to a container, the body portion further defining an orificethrough which material may flow during dispensing from the container; alid portion hingedly attached to the body portion, the lid portion beingmovable between a first, closed position in which the lid portion sealssaid orifice and a second, open position, and a removable cover that isattached to the lid portion, the removable cover defining a supplementalcompartment between the removable cover and the lid portion.

[0010] A consumer product according to a second aspect of the inventionincludes a container having a first product therein; a closure mountedon the container, the closure including a body portion, a lid portion,and a removable cover that is attached to the lid portion, the removablecover defining a supplemental compartment between the removable coverand the lid portion; and a second product that is situated in thesupplemental compartment.

[0011] These and various other advantages and features of novelty thatcharacterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a betterunderstanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtainedby its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form afurther part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, inwhich there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure that is constructedaccording to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the closure that is depicted inFIG. 1, shown in a second operational position;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the closure that is depicted inFIG. 1, shown in a third operational position; and

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a closure that is constructedaccording to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0016] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdesignate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring inparticular to FIG. 1, a closure 10 that is constructed according to afirst embodiment of the invention includes a body portion 12 that isconstructed and arranged to be secured on a container 13. In thepreferred embodiment, body portion 12 includes securing structure,preferably an interior thread, for screwing the body portion 12 to thecontainer 13. As may be seen in FIG. 1 and as is conventional, bodyportion 12 has an orifice 14 defined in a top surface thereof throughwhich material may flow during dispensing from the container 13. Thismaterial may be, for example, a lotion or a sunscreen, but couldalternatively be any one of a myriad of possible products.

[0017] Referring again to FIG. 1, closure 10 further includes a lidportion 16 that is hingedly attached to the body portion 12 by means ofa hinge 18, which is of known construction and is preferably unitarywith both the body portion 12 and the lid portion 16. Body portion 12and lid portion 16 are preferably fabricated from a plastic material,must preferably a polypropylene homopolymer. Lid portion 16 isconsequently movable between a first, closed position such is that whichis shown in FIG. 2 and a second, open position as shown in FIG. 1 fordispensing material from the container through the orifice 14. As shownin FIG. 1, lid portion 16 includes an integral plug 24 for sealing theorifice 14 when the lid portion 16 is in the closed position.

[0018] According to one particularly advantageous aspect of theinvention, a removable cover 20 is hingedly secured to the lid portion16 by means of a hinge 22 that is positioned on an opposite side of lidportion 16 from the hinge 18 that is used to connect the lid portion 16to the body portion 12. Removable cover 20 is in the preferredembodiment transparent, but with a slight tinting for aesthetic purposesand is preferably fabricated from a plastic material such aspolypropylene. As is shown in FIG. 2, the removable cover 20 ispreferably dome-shaped and defines a supplemental compartment 33 by itsinterior concave surface, for purposes that will be discussed in greaterdetail below. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the upper area of lid portion 16includes an upper rim 26 that has an inside surface 28, while theremovable cover 20 includes a downwardly depending annular flange 30having an outer surface 32. The outer surface 32 is sized and configuredso as to create an interference fit between the removable cover and theupper portion of lid portion 16 when the removable cover is in itsclosed position affixed to the lid portion 16. In other words, when inthe closed position the annular flange 30 and its outer surface 32 fittightly within and against the inside surface 28 of upper rim 26.

[0019] In the embodiment of the invention that is shown in FIGS. 1-3, asupplemental product 34 is preferably provided within the supplementalcompartment 33. For example, the closure 10 could be used to dispense asunscreen from the container, while the supplemental compartment 33could be used to dispense a lip balm. Accordingly, such a closureprovided according to the invention would be both visually attractiveand provide dual functionality.

[0020] In the embodiment of the invention that is depicted in FIG. 4, aclosure 40 is identical in all respects to the closure 10 discussedabove in reference to the first embodiment, except that there is nopermanent connection such as a hinge between the removable cover 44 andthe lid portion 42. In other words, the removable cover 44 is releasablysecured to the upper portion of the lid portion 42 by means of theinterference fit only. To remove the removable cover 44 from the lidportion 42, a consumer will grip the outer surface of the removablecover 44 and simply pull it upwardly as indicated by the arrow 48 awayfrom the lid portion 42. To replace the removable cover 44, the consumerwill simply reverse this motion, pressing it on to the lid portion 42

[0021] In the embodiment of the invention that is shown in FIG. 4, thesupplemental compartment that is defined within the removable cover 44is used to display a graphic element 46, which could create anornamental effect or convey information to the consumer. It is to beunderstood that such a graphic element 46 could be used in the firstembodiment of the invention as well, and that the supplemental product34 could alternatively be used in the second embodiment of the inventioninstead of the graphic element 46. 4. A closure according to claim 1,wherein said removable cover is releasably attached to said lid portionso that a consumer may completely removed said removable cover from saidclosure.

[0022] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A closure for a container, comprising: a bodyportion, said body portion comprising securing means for securing theclosure to a container, said body portion further defining an orificethrough which material may flow during dispensing from the container; alid portion hingedly attached to said body portion, said lid portionbeing movable between a first, closed position in which said the portionseals said orifice and a second, open position; and a removable coverthat is attached to said lid portion, said removable cover defining asupplemental compartment between said removable cover and said lidportion.
 2. A closure according to claim 1, wherein said removable coveris substantially transparent, and further comprising a graphic elementthat is positioned within said supplemental compartment.
 3. A closureaccording to claim 1, further comprising a product that is situatedwithin said supplemental compartment.
 4. A closure according to claim 1,wherein said removable cover is releasably attached to said lid portionso that a consumer may completely removed said removable cover from saidclosure.
 5. A closure according to claim 4, wherein said removable coveris releasably attached to said lid portion by an interference fit.
 6. Aclosure according to claim 1, wherein said removable cover is hingedlyattached to said lid portion.
 7. A closure according to claim 6, whereinsaid closure includes a first hinge mechanism between said body portionand said lid portion and a second hinge mechanism between said lidportion and said removable cover, and wherein said second hingemechanism is positioned on an opposite side of said lid portion fromsaid first hinge mechanism.
 8. A closure according to claim 1, whereinsaid body portion and said lid portion are fabricated from a plasticmaterial.
 9. A closure according to claim 8, wherein said plasticmaterial comprises a polypropylene homopolymer.
 10. A closure accordingto claim 1, wherein said removable cover is fabricated from a plasticmaterial.
 11. A closure according to claim 10, wherein said plasticmaterial comprises polypropylene.
 12. A closure according to claim 1,wherein said securing means comprises at least one internal thread. 13.A consumer product, comprising: a container having a first producttherein; a closure mounted on said container, said closure including abody portion, a lid portion, and a removable cover that is attached tosaid lid portion, said removable cover defining a supplementalcompartment between said removable cover and said lid portion; and asecond product that is situated in said supplemental compartment.
 14. Aclosure according to claim 13, wherein said removable cover isreleasably attached to said lid portion so that a consumer maycompletely removed said removable cover from said closure.
 15. A closureaccording to claim 14, wherein said removable coverage is releasablyattached to said lid portion by an interference fit.
 16. A closureaccording to claim 13, wherein said removable cover is hingedly attachedto said lid portion.
 17. A closure according to claim 16, wherein saidclosure includes a first hinge mechanism between said body portion andsaid lid portion and a second hinge mechanism between said lid portionand said removable cover, and wherein said second hinge mechanism ispositioned on an opposite side of said lid portion from said first hingemechanism.
 18. A closure according to claim 13, wherein said bodyportion and said lid portion are fabricated from a plastic material. 19.A closure according to claim 18, wherein said plastic material comprisesa polypropylene homopolymer.